News

June 1, 2015

New media company Fexy takes a bite out of the food and lifestyle industry with acquisitions of Serious Eats and RoadFood

June 1, 2015, Seattle, WA—Fexy, a new digital video media company run by co-CEOs Cliff and Lisa Sharples, makes a major play in the food space with the addition of Serious Eats and Roadfood to their growing portfolio of lifestyle brands. Lisa Sharples previously served 6 years as president of Allrecipes.com, leading the company from its early growth phase through an acquisition by Meredith for $175 million in 2012.

Fexy, launched in 2014, includes Fexy Brands, a portfolio of properties focused on digital video for millennials spanning the food, lifestyle, finance, health and parenting categories with over 10 million monthly unique visitors, Fexy Studios, a digital video production studio focused on creating and distributing expert-driven content, and Fexy Labs, a proprietary social content marketing analytics company that offers industry-leading insight on the social velocity and viability of content and brands.

“Fexy is a next-generation media company built around 20+ years of experience in the media and technology industries, combined with a passion for creating great products, strong brands, and engaged communities,” said Cliff Sharples, co-CEO of Fexy. “Lisa and I are thrilled to work with Serious Eats and Roadfood, inspired by the awards and accolades both have received – including 5 James Beard Awards –and excited about the opportunities Fexy can offer to our advertisers and content partners.”

Serious Eats is “the world’s most trusted authorities on deliciousness.” Founded by Ed Levine, former New York Times journalist, Serious Eats provides a democratic yet scientific approach to cooking the best dishes, busting food myths, and delivering strong opinions on what you should eat next, where, when, and why. The site includes original recipes, restaurant and dish reviews, entertaining tips and more.

“One of the biggest contributors to the steady growth Serious Eats has experienced is the authenticity of the brand, content and community—three things Fexy values as its highest priorities,” said CEO Ed Levine. “Joining with Fexy gives Serious Eats access to technologies we’ve never had before, an ability to invest more significantly in our digital video offering and offers our brand a tremendous amount of synergy and opportunity for partnerships with the other portfolio companies.”

Roadfood, the iconic brand founded by Jane and Michael Stern, New York Times Bestselling authors and winners of 3 James Beard Awards, celebrates regional and small town highway eateries and sleeves-up food made by America’s culinary folk artists. Nora Ephron of the New York Times once said, “Jane and Michael Stern should have their own wing at the Smithsonian.” The Sterns tour the US selling out shows about their adventures and writing reviews of small local roadside diners. They have published over 40 books and are regular guests on public radio’s award-winning The Splendid Table.

“We’ve been on the road for 40 years together and we’re thrilled that Fexy is joining us as we continue this adventure,” said Jane Stern of Roadfood. “Joining forces with Fexy means we have a new buffet of technology to compliment Roadfood and an opportunity to work with some of the other great brands in the Fexy portfolio.”

Fexy is co-founded by Lisa Sharples; husband Cliff Sharples, digital entrepreneur who has founded several venture backed companies and most recently served as COO of The Cheezburger Network;, and Ben Sternberg, who has extensive experience investing and leading M&A transactions in the digital media space, most recently with The Raine Group. To date Fexy has acquired 5 companies, and is backed by Tritium Partners, led by Phil Siegel and David Lack who previously spearheaded numerous successful investments including HomeAway and RetailMeNot.

About Fexy
Fexy was founded in Seattle Washington in 2014 by media veterans Cliff and Lisa Sharples and investment professional, Ben Sternberg. Fexy includes a brand portfolio focused on digital video for millennials spanning the food, lifestyle, finance, health and parenting categories with over 10 million monthly unique visitors. Fexy includes Fexy Brands—Serious Eats, Roadfood, Spry Living, Relish and American Profile; Fexy Studios—a digital video production studio focused on creating and distributing expert-driven content; and Fexy Labs—offering proprietary social content marketing analytics that provide industry-leading insight on the social velocity and viability of content and brands. For additional information on Fexy, visit: http://www.fexy.com/